Updated October 2026. If you're looking for protein shakes without gums, the ingredient list is the place to check. Gums such as gellan gum and guar gum are commonly used in ready-to-drink shakes to help with texture and stability.
Some people are perfectly happy with them. Others simply prefer a shorter ingredient list or a shake that gets its texture another way. This guide compares several popular dairy-free ready-to-drink protein shakes and shows which ones currently use gums.
Transparency: this guide is published by GROUNDED. Competitor ingredient information was checked against current brand product pages in October 2026.
Protein shakes without gums: quick comparison
| Product | Protein | Gums listed? | Current gum ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|
| GROUNDED Chocolate Protein Milkshake | 20g | No | None |
| ALOHA Chocolate Sea Salt Protein Drink | 18g | Yes | Gellan gum |
| OWYN Smooth Vanilla Protein Shake | 20g | Yes | Guar gum + gellan gum |
| Orgain 20g Plant-Based Protein Shake | 20g | Yes | Gellan gum |
| Ripple Chocolate Protein Shake | 20g | Yes | Gellan gum |
Formulas can change. Always check the current package if avoiding a specific ingredient matters to you.
Why are gums used in protein shakes?
Ready-to-drink protein shakes have to keep water, protein, oils and flavour ingredients evenly dispersed while sitting on a shelf. Ingredients such as gellan gum and guar gum can help create a smoother texture and improve physical stability.
The presence of a gum does not automatically make a product better or worse. It is simply one formulation choice. Some shoppers specifically look for gum-free products because they prefer a shorter ingredient list or a different texture system.
1. GROUNDED Protein Milkshake
GROUNDED Chocolate Protein Milkshake delivers 20g protein in a 16.6 fl oz carton and is formulated without gums.
Its texture comes from a coconut milk base with coconut cream, plus pea and organic sunflower protein. The current formula also includes organic cane sugar, olive oil, cocoa, vanilla, citrus fibre and Himalayan salt.
GROUNDED is therefore an option for people specifically looking for a dairy-free protein shake without guar gum, gellan gum, xanthan gum or carrageenan.
2. ALOHA Protein Drinks
ALOHA's current Chocolate Sea Salt Protein Drink lists gellan gum. It provides 18g plant protein and uses pea and brown rice protein with a Fair Trade coconut milk base.
ALOHA is still dairy-free and has a strong organic/Fair Trade positioning, but it is not currently a gum-free option.
For a broader comparison, see GROUNDED vs ALOHA.
3. OWYN Protein Shakes
OWYN's current Smooth Vanilla Protein Shake lists both guar gum and gellan gum. It provides 20g plant protein from pea and organic pumpkin seed protein.
OWYN's formulation prioritises a low-sugar, allergen-conscious shake, but shoppers specifically avoiding gums should check the ingredient panel before buying.
See the full GROUNDED vs OWYN comparison.
4. Orgain Plant-Based Protein Shake
Orgain's current 20g Plant-Based Protein Shake lists gellan gum. The current Creamy Chocolate product provides 20g plant protein, 140 calories and 0g sugar.
Orgain is also labelled carrageenan-free, which is worth distinguishing from gum-free: a product can contain no carrageenan while still using another gum such as gellan gum.
See GROUNDED vs Orgain.
5. Ripple Protein Shake
Ripple's current Chocolate Protein Shake provides 20g pea protein and lists gellan gum among its ingredients.
Ripple is dairy-free, vegan and pea-protein based, but its current Chocolate Protein Shake is not gum-free.
What gums should you look for on a protein shake label?
If you want a gum-free protein shake, common names to look for include:
- Gellan gum
- Guar gum
- Xanthan gum
- Locust bean gum
- Cellulose gum
Carrageenan is a different seaweed-derived stabilising ingredient that shoppers sometimes group into the same conversation. A “carrageenan-free” claim does not necessarily mean a product contains no gums at all.
Are gums bad for you?
This guide is not making that claim. Gums are widely used food ingredients, and whether you choose to avoid them is a personal preference. The useful distinction here is simply whether a shake contains them.
If you have a diagnosed digestive condition, food allergy or other medical reason for avoiding a particular ingredient, use the current product label and follow advice from an appropriate healthcare professional.
What is the best protein shake without gums?
If your main requirement is simply no gums, the first step is checking the full ingredient list rather than relying on broad claims such as “clean,” “natural” or “carrageenan-free.”
GROUNDED Protein Milkshakes provide 20g plant protein and are formulated without gums. They also contain no artificial sweeteners, stevia or monk fruit.
If your priority is lower sugar or lower calories instead, other products may suit you better even if they use gums. The right comparison depends on which trade-off matters most to you.
FAQ
Does GROUNDED contain gellan gum?
No. GROUNDED Protein Milkshakes do not contain gellan gum.
Does GROUNDED contain guar gum?
No. GROUNDED Protein Milkshakes do not contain guar gum.
Does GROUNDED contain xanthan gum?
No. GROUNDED Protein Milkshakes do not contain xanthan gum.
Does GROUNDED contain carrageenan?
No. GROUNDED Protein Milkshakes do not contain carrageenan.
Is carrageenan-free the same as gum-free?
No. A shake can be carrageenan-free and still contain gums such as gellan gum or guar gum.